Portsmouth Honors Sailors Lost At Sea At Memorial Day Ceremony In Prescott Park

PORTSMOUTH, NH — Portsmouth held its annual Memorial Day ceremony honoring sailors lost at sea, in Prescott Park, where members of the public gathered at the historic anchor tied to the city's maritime history.

The event took place on the Friday before Memorial Day within sight of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, described in the announcement as the nation's oldest continuously operating naval shipyard.

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The city's tribute centers on tossing a flower wreath into the Piscataqua River in memory of those lost at sea and those eternally "on patrol." This year's ceremony followed that tradition, with Mayor Deaglan McEachern and USS New Mexico commanding officer CDR Joseph Kimock offering remarks before tossing the memorial wreath into the water as the Portsmouth Middle School band played "Taps."

The program also included musical and ceremonial elements tied to Memorial Day observances. The Portsmouth Middle School band played the "Star Spangled Banner" and later performed the hymn "Abide With Me." Beacon Hospice Chaplain Bradley Hyden offered the invocation. The city identified Hyden as a former U.S. Marine Corps corporal who served from 1986 to 1992 and as a medic in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1992 to 1994.

Stephanie Seacord, chairwoman of the City of Portsmouth Host Community Welcoming Committee for USS New Mexico, served as emcee.

In remarks included in the city's announcement, McEachern connected the ceremony to both Memorial Day and the country's founding principles.

“In every war America has fought, our citizens have battled and died for the principles of the Declaration of Independence. This year, we honor the 250th anniversary of those ideals they fought for, and to which we dedicate ourselves, today and during our Memorial Day Parade on Monday. We are here with this wreath to remind ourselves of the special price our Portsmouth sailors pay. They will never be forgotten.”

The ceremony was meant to recognize Portsmouth's deep connection to the sea and the sacrifices made by sailors remembered each year during the observance.